A Wickedly Smart Page-Turner About the Price of Literary Fame

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum

Murder Your Darlings by the accomplished and versatile Jenna Blum is one of those all too rare novels that might transform a non-reader into a committed bibliophile. It’s a perfect witty blend of love, betrayal, suspense and vengeful reprisal set in the world of publishing. Professional jealousy, plot stealing, appropriation of ideas, plagiarism and soul-crushing negative criticism running amok might lead to murder on a tight deadline. Devoted fans and aspiring writers who have ever attended an author talk, book discussion group, book festival, writing workshop, class or seminar may recognize themselves as participants in the events described in these pages. Every member of the publishing industry including literary agents, editors, designers, project managers, sales, marketing, distribution and support staff are also well represented. Jenna Blum throws a light on the individuals essential to every successful writer up to and frequently including good therapists and cheerleaders.

A Triangular Narrative with Razor-Sharp Insight

An interesting, clever twist in this fast-paced novel is the triangular balance between the protagonists who simultaneously narrate their individual points of view while sharing their innermost thoughts. The three main characters are moderately successful novelist Simone “Sam” Vetiver, mega-best-selling and swoon-worthy author William Corwyn and bookseller Emily, identified as “The Rabbit”, a relentless stalker of William. Sam is easily the most relatable and sympathetic of this disparate trio.

Chapter One of Murder Your Darlings begins with New York Times best-selling author Sam Vetiver, temporarily lost, battling a faulty rental car GPS system and nervous about being late for the fourth and final stop on her personal appearance book promotion tour. The sales figures for her fourth historical fiction novel The Sodbuster’s Wife are not measuring up to her previous works and Sam hopefully fancies a packed audience clutching multiple freshly purchased novels for the post-event signing. Unlike some writers who resent tours and the time away from writing it entails, Sam loves the company of her readers. Beginning as a precocious four-year-old, writing has come easily to her but it is the adulation of an adoring public that continues to set her soul on fire spurring her on. Since becoming a successful author a dozen or more years ago, she has lead a cooperative creative workshop to support, encourage and mentor a growing group of predominantly women writers to succeed in achieving their dreams of actually completing and publishing their first books.

Obsession, Charisma and the Dark Side of Literary Fame

Already sharing the same publisher as Sam Vetiver, “Most Lit Bachelor” William Corwyn soon will be sharing her bed after he first insinuates himself into her life through an ego flattering email. William is a publishing phenomenon whose five novels have all spent multiple weeks in the #1 spot of the New York Times fiction best-seller list beginning with his debut novel The Girl on the Mountain written while he was in grad school. William has been dubbed The Virtuoso for his seemingly effortless genre fluidity and diversity of themes: a Gothic coming-of-age story, a contemporary romance, a sci-fi fantasy, a retelling of Medusa and now with a poetic family saga, All the Lambert Souls that critics are lauding. Reaching eloquently and expressively into the soul and point-of-view of a woman is a trait all his works have in common. Also, it doesn’t hurt that he is easy on the eyes.

None of these three protagonists are who they appear to be. They will reveal their innermost thoughts and secrets in the individual chapters they narrate as their storylines unfold. Once the characters are fully established, Jenna Blum accelerates the action as their paths intersect and the surprising plotlines are revealed.